stc group has launched an advanced operations and maintenance platform with Huawei to accelerate automation across its core network, marking a fresh step in the company’s shift towards more autonomous, predictive and efficient telecom operations.The Riyadh-based digital services group said the solution is designed to support the evolution of its core network towards Autonomous Networks Level 4, a maturity stage in which networks rely heavily on closed-loop automation, data analytics and intelligent fault handling rather than manual intervention. The system is built around 3GPP Management Data Analytics Function standards, giving it a framework for collecting, analysing and acting on management data across network domains.
The launch comes as stc group faces heavier operational demands from the expansion of 5G, 5.5G services, cloud-based applications, digital payments, Internet of Things services and data-heavy consumer platforms. Over the past five years, the group’s core network elements have risen by 2.5 times, service categories have expanded by 75 per cent, and the technology stack supporting the network has doubled in scale. That growth has made conventional network monitoring and fault management more difficult, particularly as telecom operators seek faster service assurance and lower operating costs.
The platform, known as ICNMaster, is positioned as an intelligent O&M orchestration system. It provides real-time topology visualisation, cross-domain data correlation, anomaly detection and closed-loop automation. The aim is to help network teams move from reactive troubleshooting to predictive management, where potential faults are identified and addressed before they cause service disruption.
A key component of the system, FaultSpirit, is designed to speed up alarm diagnosis and customer complaint resolution. It draws on an updated technical knowledge base and advanced reasoning tools to identify faults affecting alarms, signalling and data transmission. Resolution times that previously required extended manual review can be reduced to minutes in selected operational scenarios, improving reliability and productivity across network operations centres.
The solution also includes NOCMate, a unified knowledge platform that brings together technical standards, vendor documents and institutional expertise. For engineers handling complex network incidents, such systems can shorten the time needed to find accurate technical information and reduce dependence on scattered documentation or individual experience. That is especially relevant for operators managing multi-vendor infrastructure, cloud-native network functions and fast-changing service portfolios.
The partnership with Huawei builds on stc group’s broader automation agenda. The company has already adopted AI-powered network optimisation tools, including self-organising network technologies used to improve performance across 4G and 5G infrastructure. Earlier deployments processed more than 10,000 automated network actions during high-traffic periods, improving utilisation on loaded cells and raising average user throughput while traffic volumes climbed sharply.
Energy efficiency has also become a growing part of the automation case. AI-supported radio network optimisation has helped reduce power use across parts of stc’s 4G and 5G networks, while allowing the operator to maintain service quality during demand peaks. Telecom operators globally are under pressure to curb energy costs as network density rises, particularly with 5G expansion, data centre growth and enterprise connectivity services.
stc group’s latest move also reflects a wider industry shift towards autonomous networks. Telecom operators are increasingly using AI, machine learning and intent-based systems to cut manual workloads, improve network resilience and speed up service deployment. Industry work on Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous networks focuses on self-healing, self-optimising and self-configuring infrastructure, although full autonomy remains a complex target because operators must manage legacy systems, cybersecurity risks, regulatory requirements and vendor interoperability.
Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure ambitions provide a strong backdrop for the deployment. stc group has positioned itself as a major digital enabler, spanning telecom services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital payments, media, entertainment and IoT. The group operates across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe through a network of subsidiaries, giving network automation strategic importance beyond mobile connectivity alone.
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